Tropical Storm Debby has made its second landfall in South Carolina as it continues its journey up the East Coast. Residents as far north as Vermont are expected to experience several inches of rain this weekend.
The National Hurricane Center reported that Debby came ashore early Thursday near Bulls Bay, South Carolina. The storm is anticipated to move inland, bringing heavy rain and potential flooding through the mid-Atlantic and Northeast by the weekend.
Debby initially made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane early Monday on Florida’s Gulf Coast. It has since weakened to a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (80 kph).
Considerable flooding is expected across parts of eastern South Carolina and southeast North Carolina through Friday, with an additional 3 to 9 inches (8 to 23 centimeters) of rain forecasted, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Days of rain have prompted residents of a South Carolina community to begin assessing the damage left by Debby. The storm, which continued to churn over the Atlantic Ocean, also influenced thunderstorms from the East Coast to the Great Lakes on Wednesday. The National Weather Service’s Charleston office confirmed four tornadoes related to Debby.
In Huger, approximately 15 miles (24 kilometers) northeast of Charleston, Gene Taylor was waiting for water to drain from his house along French Quarter Creek after high tide. Taylor had anticipated flooding and had moved belongings to higher areas in his home. He noted that this is the fourth time in nine years that he has experienced floodwaters in his home.
“We’ve learned from the past that it’s better to be prepared for the worst. Unfortunately, I think we got it,” Taylor said.
Nearby, Charles Grainger was cleaning up after approximately 8 inches (20 centimeters) of water entered his home. “Eight inches disrupts your whole life,” Grainger said. “You don’t get used to it. You just grin and bear it. It’s part of living on the creek.”
In Georgia, at least four dams were breached northwest of Savannah in Bulloch County, but no deaths have been reported. Authorities stated that more than 75 people were rescued from floodwaters, and around 100 roads were closed. Bulloch County Commission Chairman Roy Thompson remarked, “I’m 78 years old and have never seen anything like this before in Bulloch County. It’s amazing what has happened and what will continue to happen until all these waters recede.”
Residents on Tappan Zee Drive in suburban Pooler, west of Savannah, experienced déjà vu as Debby’s rain brought back memories of Hurricane Matthew’s flooding in October 2016. Despite being 30 miles (50 kilometers) inland from the Atlantic Ocean, the neighborhood faces drainage issues that have persisted for over a decade.
Debby also brought rain to areas up to the Great Lakes, New York, and New Jersey. Moisture from the storm intensified another system on Tuesday evening, resulting in strong thunderstorms, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Scott Kleebauer.
Parts of New Jersey received up to 6 inches (15 centimeters) of rain in less than four hours. Emergency officials in New York City warned of potential flash flooding, using drones with loudspeakers to alert residents in basement apartments. Several water rescues were reported in and around the city.
As of Wednesday afternoon, nearly 330,000 customers in Ohio were without power following severe storms, including two confirmed tornadoes. Utility officials with FirstEnergy’s Illuminating Company indicated that power restoration would take several days due to the damage.
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster described the situation as “Act 2 of a three-act play,” noting that more than 60 homes were damaged but that roads and water systems were largely intact. The final act may unfold next week if additional rainfall in North Carolina causes significant flooding along rivers flowing to the Atlantic Ocean.
A state of emergency has been declared for both North Carolina and Virginia, while Maryland issued a state of preparedness to coordinate preparations without declaring an emergency.
At least six people have died due to the storm, including five in traffic accidents or from fallen trees. The sixth death involved a 48-year-old man in Gulfport, Florida, whose body was recovered after his anchored sailboat partially sank.
